The Allotment Book. Andi Clevely

many of them classic kinds with distinctive colours and flavours; modern kinds are often bred for disease- and pest-resistance or drought-tolerance.

      HOW TO GROW Buy sets early and chit them (see page 135) at least 6 weeks before planting – early varieties in early spring and late summer, second earlies and maincrop kinds in late spring. Choose an open, sunny position in well-drained soil that has not been recently limed; avoid ground where potatoes were grown in the past 3 years. (Potatoes can also be grown in containers and sacks, see page 199.)

      Plant tubers with their shoots uppermost, 10–15cm (4–6in) deep (the greater depth on light soils), in straight drills or individual holes (see page 184 for pogo planter), and cover with soil to leave a slight ridge. First earlies can be cloched to protect and advance growth; all varieties can be planted through black polythene or a sheet mulch (see page 122) to avoid earthing up later.

      Protect the tops from frost with soil or newspaper, and earth up stems when 15–20cm (6–8in) high by drawing soil with a hoe or rake up to half their height in a uniform ridge – this stops tubers turning green in the light. Once is enough for first earlies, but repeat with other varieties every 2–3 weeks until their tops meet. Water earlies regularly throughout, main crops once or twice when flowering begins.

      Start harvesting earlies when their flowers open fully and a trial scrape reveals useful tubers: lift with a fork and continue as needed. Lift maincrops when the foliage turns brown: cut this off and wait about 2 weeks before forking up the complete crop for storing (see page 206).

      WHEN TO PLANT Early spring (earlies) to late spring

      SPACING Earlies: between tubers 30cm (12in), between rows 45cm (18in); others: between tubers 38cm (15in), between rows 75cm (30in)

      TIME TO MATURITY Earlies: 12–14 weeks; 2nd earlies: 15–18 weeks; maincrop: 18–22 weeks

      HEIGHT 45–90cm (18–36in)

      AVERAGE YIELD Up to 1.3kg (3lb) per plant

      VARIETIES Extra early: ‘Rocket’, ‘Swift’; 1st early: ‘Arran Pilot’, ‘Concorde’, ‘Pentland Javelin’; 2nd early: ‘Estima’, ‘Kestrel’, ‘Wilja’; maincrop: ‘Cara’, ‘Maxine’, ‘Picasso’

      Carrots Daucus carota

      The numerous varieties – mainly orange or red but sometimes purple, yellow or white – are divided into two main groups. Small fast-maturing (‘early’ or ‘bunching’) varieties are used for early, late (see page 200) and successional sowings, while maincrop kinds are larger, take longer to grow and keep well in store.

      HOW TO GROW Choose warm, sheltered sites for early sowings and open, sunny positions for other kinds. Soils should be light and friable, well drained and free from larger stones, and with plenty of organic matter from a previous crop.

      Sow thinly in drills, 1–2cm (¹/₂–³/₄in) deep, in a finely prepared seedbed, earliest and last sowings in a frame or under cloches. If carrot fly is a problem, time sowings to miss attacks or take suitable precautions (see page 190). Keep the soil consistently moist during germination, and water every 2–3 weeks thereafter.

      Thin in stages by pinching off surplus seedlings at surface level (destroy these to avoid luring pests); weed carefully at first, and then mulch when plants have 2–3 true leaves. Pull or fork up roots when large enough, and then firm or water the disturbed soil; clear maincrops for storing (see page 160) from mid-autumn onwards.

      Sowing in modules For the earliest crops, sow a round variety like ‘Lisa’ or ‘Parmex’ in pots, soil blocks or modules in late winter. Sow 5–6 seeds in each cell and leave unthinned. Plant strong clusters 23cm (9in) apart each way in a frame or used growing bags indoors, or outdoors after hardening off in mid-spring (see page 139).

      WHEN TO SOW Early spring to early autumn

      GERMINATION 2–3 weeks at 7°C (45°F) minimum

      SPACING Early: 8–10cm (3–4in); maincrop: 5–8cm (2–3in); all in rows 15cm (6in) apart

      TIME TO MATURITY Early: 7–10 weeks; maincrop: 10–16 weeks

      HEIGHT 23–38cm (9–15in)

      AVERAGE YIELD 225–450g (8–16oz) per 30cm (12in) row

      VARIETIES Early: ‘Amsterdam Forcing’, ‘Early Nantes’, ‘Flyaway’, ‘Sytan’; maincrop: ‘Autumn King’, ‘Carson’, ‘Favourite’

      Beetroot Beta vulgaris

      An easy crop with round, flat or tapering roots that are usually red, but also yellow, white or bicoloured. With the exception of ‘monogerm’ varieties like ‘Solo’, seeds are capsules producing several seedlings that need thinning. Choose a bolt-resistant variety for earliest sowings. For ‘baby beet’ grow at half the normal distance apart, or use alternate roots from maincrops, leaving the rest to mature for storing. The white variety ‘Albina Vereduna’ has good-flavoured leaves for use as greens; those of ‘Bull’s Blood’ are deepest red and ornamental.

      HOW TO GROW Sow outdoors in full sun for good roots and less foliage, 2cm (³/₄ in) deep at monthly intervals from about 4 weeks before the last frosts; earlier crops can be multi-sown indoors (see page 135). Sow maincrops at least 12–14 weeks before autumn frosts. Thin several times, keep weed-free until large enough to mulch, and water every 2–3 weeks in dry weather. Start pulling alternate roots when 5cm (2in) across, about 2 months after sowing. Lift and store maincrops like carrots after twisting, rather than cutting, off the foliage.

      WHEN TO SOW Late spring to late summer; from late winter under glass

      GERMINATION 2 weeks at 7°C (45°F) minimum

      SPACING 10cm (4in) in rows 23–30cm (9–12in) apart; or 15cm (6in) square

      TIME TO MATURITY 8–16 weeks

      HEIGHT 15–30cm (6–12in)

      AVERAGE YIELD 450g (1lb) per 30cm (12in) row

      VARIETIES ‘Alto’, ‘Boltardy’, ‘Burpees Golden’, ‘Chioggia’, ‘Cylindra’, ‘Forono’

      Radishes Raphanus sativus

      One of the fastest crops from seed, radishes have red, white or bicoloured roots in a range of shapes and sizes. Summer varieties with small, mildly flavoured roots are successionally sown over a long season, often as a catch- or intercrop (see page 142